Mar 4 - "Mercies in Disguise"

Mar 4 - “Mercies in Disguise”

Genesis 41:37-45 -- “The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find anyone else like this one in whom is the spirit of God?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, ‘Bow the knee!’ Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.’ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.”

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For any of you who have followed along we me on the Lenten journey these past few years, you will likely remember that the story of Joseph is one of my favorites in the Bible.

The verses leading up to today’s tell the story of Jacob’s youngest and favored son, Joseph. His brothers are jealous of him. They throw him in a pit, sell him into slavery and then tell Jacob he has been killed, showing him the coat of many colors, soaked in blood. But Joseph works hard as a slave in the household of a high-ranking official in Egypt. Things are looking better. But then Potipher’s wife tries to seduce Jacob. He refuses, she is upset at the rejection and accuses him publicly of trying to seduce her. Joseph gets thrown in jail.

While in prison, Joseph works hard again and becomes a leader over his fellow inmates. God gives him the skill to interpret dreams and does so for Pharaoh’s baker and cup bearer. These dreams come true. Pharaoh later hears about it, brings Joseph to him and we see the story unfold to Joseph being placed into position higher than anyone in Egypt other than Pharaoh himself. His brothers and family come to join him there, as Joseph forgives them of their actions against him. The story ends...hundreds of years later...with the Israelites as slaves in Egypt, eventually lead by Moses out to the promised land, so God’s glory could be seen my thousands upon thousands living at that time.

God had a plan.

As these verses were appearing in Morning Prayer over the past week, I was feeling a little disappointed that I was not filled with something new to say about them, giving me an opportunity to share one of my favorites again with each of you. The Holy Spirit was sending other things my way. My plan would have been to write about Joseph and the faithfulness of God’s Plan over time. However, God had other plans for this daily sojourn in the Word.

Until today.

This past Friday, my wife Greta was helping my sister Abbi, by taking care of our nephew Henry. Abbi has been in the last few weeks of her pregnancy with Henry’s little brother or sister and had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. On Friday afternoons, she would go in for an extended check up to make sure her levels were OK and no other issues were on the horizon. Originally, when Abbi got the news of this issue and shared it with us, we were all, of course, concerned for the health of the baby as well as Abbi. The remainder of the pregnancy would present a little higher risk for both and require dietary modification as well as the aforementioned Friday checkups. Had God somehow set her and her baby aside? How could a gracious and merciful God allow this to happen?

God had a plan.

During Friday’s checkup, the doctor decided to order an unscheduled ultrasound for some unknown reason. The ultrasound showed that the baby’s umbilical cord was knotted. If the baby moved the wrong way, the knot could be pulled tight, causing the baby to lose nutrients and oxygen, resulting in a potentially horrible or fatal outcome. Abbi was immediately checked into the hospital, restricted to bed rest and an amniocentesis was ordered to see how far developed the baby was.

By Saturday, the results were back. The baby was in perfect condition and, at almost 37 weeks, ready to be born. The doctors induced Abbi yesterday morning and last evening, our family was blessed with a new baby girl! She is beautiful! I look forward with great joy to meet her today, a new person in my life whom I already love with all of my heart!

God had a plan. Had it not been for the gestational diabetes and the regular Friday check ups, had it not been for God placing a thought in the mind of the doctor to run the extra ultrasound on Friday, who knows what may have happened. By His grace and mercy, we will never have to know.

Praise him!!!!!

One of my favorite songs on Christian radio right now is one by Laura Story called “Blessings”. In this song, she writes and beautifully sings:

‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is a revealing of a greater thirst

This world can’t satisfy?

And what if the trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise?

Praise Him!!!

So, brothers and sisters, as I sit here writing to you, with tears of joy streaming down my face, I send you love this morning. Know that God has a plan for you. Even when we feel like things are not going our way, when we are at are lowest point, have faith that He is working all things for you at all times. The rain, the storms, the hardest nights ARE His mercies in disguise.